Originally published October 13, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified October 13, 2007 at 2:02 AM
FDA to examine claim that lipstick lead levels unsafe
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday it would look into claims from an advocacy group that certain lipsticks contain potentially...
Information
Full report: www.SafeCosmetics.org
WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday it would look into claims from an advocacy group that certain lipsticks contain potentially dangerous levels of lead.
Similar past claims have not been confirmed, the agency said.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said one-third of the 33 red lipsticks examined by an independent lab contained a level of lead exceeding 0.1 parts per million (ppm), the FDA's limit for lead in candy. None listed lead as an ingredient. Thirty-nine percent of the lipsticks tested had no detectable levels of lead.
The FDA does not set a limit for lead in lipstick.
The FDA said concerns about lead in lipstick have been raised occasionally in the print media and on the Internet.
"These concerns have not generally been supported by FDA's own analysis of products on the market. In the present case, we are looking into the specific details of the issues raised," said FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics describes itself as a coalition of women's, public-health, labor, environmental-health and consumer-rights groups whose goal is to pressure companies to remove toxic chemicals from their products and replace them with safer alternatives.
The lead tests were conducted by the Bodycote Testing Group last month on lipsticks bought in Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Hartford, Conn., the organization said. Bodycote Testing Group, of Sante Fe Springs, Calif., operates nearly 300 facilities around the world.
Among the top brands testing positive for lead were:
• L'Oréal Colour Riche "True Red": 0.65 ppm
• L'Oréal Colour Riche "Classic Wine": 0.58 ppm
• Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor "Maximum Red": 0.56 ppm
• Dior Addict "Positive Red": 0.21 ppm
L'Oréal challenged that its products contain harmful ingredients, saying in an e-mail that its products have been thoroughly reviewed and tested by the company's toxicologists, clinicians, pharmacists and physicians and are in compliance with federal regulations.
The trade association representing the cosmetic industry acknowledged "negligible" levels of lead in some lipsticks but said it is not intentionally added.
"Consumers are exposed daily to lead when they eat, drink water and breathe," said John Bailey, an executive vice president at the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association.
"The average amount of lead a woman would be exposed to when using cosmetics is 1,000 times less than the amount she would get from eating, breathing and drinking water that meets Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water standards."
Also
ConAgra Foods recalled all of its Banquet line of frozen potpies and those sold under eight store brands because of salmonella poisoning that sickened at least 165 people in 31 states, including Washington. The store brands include Western Family, Kirkwood, those at Albertsons, Wal-Mart Stores' Great Value and Kroger labels, ConAgra said.
Material from Bloomberg News is included in this report.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Biden: Israel free to set own course on Iran
Obama warns of 'difficult' days in Iraq, pledges support for troops
Top Iran clerics decry election, defy supreme leader
NEW - 07:00 PM
Honduran military told to turn back Zelaya's jet
UN official to accompany Honduran president home

2009 fireworks time lapse
With strict parking rules enforced at this year's July 4th celebration on Wallingford Ave North, less cars and more spectators filled the streets.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping

events for Sunday, Jul. 5th
- Posh on Main Semiannual Sale
- Kuhlman Summer Sale
- Pink Ginger First Anniversary Sale
- Evo Independence Sale
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Palin takes to Web for hints of political future
- Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
- The Blotter | Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
784 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/05 game thread
247 - Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
162 - Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
122 - Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
111 - Former NFL MVP McNair killed
110 - Property taxes: Appeals shoot up is King, Snohomish Counties
103 - Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
90 - Anti-tax rally in Olympia attracts about 1,500
58 - Seeking your questions
47
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Amtrak cleared for 2nd daily train to Vancouver, B.C.
- Pre-grill drill: marinate steaks
- Concert Review | Green Day blasts off 4th weekend with KeyArena show
- Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision



